Tage Erlander: Serving the Welfare State, 1946-1969

by Olof Ruin

Overview

Prime minister of Sweden and leader of the Social Democratic party from 1946-1969, Tage Erlander enjoyed a career that was remarkable both for its major accomplishments and longevity. Under his leadership, Sweden became an exemplary welfare state following World War II. Universal pensions, child support, health insurance, extended paid vacations, subsidized housing, and many other benefits made Sweden's standard of living the envy of the world.

This definitive political biography is both the study of an individual style of leadership and the role of the prime minister in a parliamentary state. It shows Erlander as a complex and engaging intellectual fiercely loyal to his party, agitative yet dedicated to cooperation between parties.

Olof Ruin analyzes Erlander's various roles as Riksdag caucus leader, cabinet organizer, party leader, promoter of domestic consensus, and foreign policy maker. Ruin is the first scholar to be given unrestricted access to Erlander's diaries.
 

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780822985235
Publisher:	University of Pittsburgh Press
Publication date:	04/24/1990
Edition description:	1
Pages:	380
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.90(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Olof Ruin is professor emeritus of political science at Stockholm University.

Editorial Reviews

Olof Ruin's Tage Erlander: Serving the Welfare State, 1946-1969 is both a political biography of Sweden's longest serving prime minister and a history of the golden age of the Swedish welfare state—and perhaps that of Swedish Social Democracy as well. Based on Erlander's diaries, correspondence, speeches, and interviews, this well-crafted volume demonstrates that political scientists can write good history.”
—Scandinavian Studies

“Tage Erlander was a central, if not the central, figure in the formation of the postwar Swedish welfare state. . . . Olof Ruin has written an engaging and affectionate biography of Erlander that has been extremely well translated into English by Michael Metcalf. The biography tells a great deal about Erlander, but it also tells a great deal about governing Sweden and about the task of governing more generally. Ruin's book is required reading for students of Swedish politics, as well as for students of the executive branch of government.”
—Governance

“This is an authoritative biography of Sweden's 'longest prime minister'-six foot four, and twenty-three years continuously in charge. . . . A sympathetic but not adulatory portrait, professionally structured around the various roles which Erlander has to play. . . . A very readable study of an extraordinarily successful politician.”
—Political Studies

From the Publisher

In the post-WW II era, Sweden, the model welfare state, reputedly enjoyed the world's highest standard of living. In a biography of interest mainly to students of Swedish history, we follow the role played by Erlander, who for 23 years (1946-69) served simultaneously as his country's prime minister and as leader of the Social Democratic party. Generous social benefits--from child support to subsidized housing and health insurance--were instituted during his tenure, accompanied by economic restructuring, improved labor relations and the delicate maintenance of the country's neutrality. Swedish political scientist Ruin's basically appreciative scholarly effort portrays Erlander as a pragmatic ideologue whose intellect and political acumen were leavened by his humanity and humor. Photos. (Apr.)

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

Under the remarkably long term of governance by Prime Minister Erlander, Sweden became an exemplary welfare state, providing broad social benefits and an enviable standard of living. This political biography is both the study of an individual style of leadership and of the role of the prime minister in a parliamentary state. Ably translated from the Swedish. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Booknews